All Progressives Congress (APC) has garnered big wins across the country based on the results so far announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from Saturday’s governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.
Apart from asserting its political power, the ruling APC has grabbed flipping states previously won by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Although PDP struggled to return in many states, after the February 25 presidential poll, it re-emerged as the country’s main opposition party.
For example, many APC governors secured re-election across the six geopolitical zones, with extensive triumphs at the state assemblies.
APC governors, who secured re-election, included Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, and Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of Kwara State.
In addition, the ruling party retained control of states like Katsina and Jigawa, reclaimed Sokoto, and led comfortably in Ebonyi and many others.
On its part, PDP, aside re-electing Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, won Akwa Ibom and Plateau States, and maintained unassailable lead in Delta and Rivers states, while posting controlling votes in Taraba, Bauchi, Enugu, and Abia, among states.
However, in Adamawa State, there was palpable tension between PDP’s Governor Ahmad Fintiri and APC’s Senator Aisha Ahmed-Binani, who were locked in a tough and tight race. With just one local government, Fofure, remaining, INEC had intended to suspend collation in the state, but the people, reportedly, insisted the exercise must be concluded.
At the time of filing this report, PDP was already leading with 35,615 votes in Adamawa State, after results from two more council areas – Michika and Song – were announced.
The situation in Kebbi State was equally tight, as the two main parties – PDP and APC – were in a tie with six local governments each, before collation was suspended last night.
In Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, reportedly maintained dominance in the House of Assembly with his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), despite the initial intimidation of the Labour Party (LP), which had a former governor of the state as its face.
Similarly, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke locked down the House of Assembly for PDP, while Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello showed strength for APC in the Assembly, just as Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of APC neutralised his opponents with overwhelming majority in the House of Assembly.
Expectedly, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) maintained its winning streak in Kano State, leading in many local government areas, and was on the verge of repeating its record during the presidential poll.
Results
NNPP Wins in Kano State
The New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) has consolidated its grip on Kano politics by winning the governorship election in the pyramid state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the party’s candidate, Abba Yusuf, as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Announcing the result on Monday, the state Returning Officer, Prof. Doko Ibrahim said Yusuf polled 1,019,602 votes to defeat the incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Yusuf Gawuna, of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who scored 892,705 votes.
The victory is coming three weeks after the party won the presidential vote in the state and produced two of its three Senators-elect.
Abdullahi Sule Re-elected in Nasarawa State
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was re-elected in Nasarawa State.
The INEC State Collation Officer and Returning Officer, Prof Ishaya Tanko, announced this in Lafia on Monday.
He said the APC candidate polled 347,209 votes to defeat his closest opponent, David Ombugadu, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 283, 016 votes.
It seemed like a repeat of the 2019 governorship election where Sule first defeated Ombugadu by polling 327,229 votes against his opponent’s 184,281.
Labaran Maku of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) got 132,784 votes to come third in this year’s governorship election in the state.
Gov. Sanwo-Olu Re-elected in Lagos State
In Lagos, INEC declared Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, announced this in Lagos on Monday.
She said that Sanwo-Olu polled 762,134 votes to defeat his closest rival of the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour who scored 312, 329 votes.
The PDP candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran garnered 62,449 votes to come a distant third.
The Lagos State Collation Agent of the LP, Dayo Ekong, had earlier called for the cancellation of the election, alleging high–level violence, attacks, ballot box snatching, disruption, and disenfranchisement in multiple locations during the vote.
Gov. Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq Re-elected in Kwara State
Just like Gov. Sanwo-Olu, Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State was declared the winner of Saturday’s Governorship election.
Abdulrazaq won the election to serve a second term of another four years in office on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.
The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Isaac Itodo, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Markurdi, said Abdulrazaq won in all the 16 local government areas of the state.
He polled 273, 242 votes while his closet rival, Shuaib Yaman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 155, 490.
Akeem Lawal of the Social Democratic Party (SD) came third with 18,922.
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya Re-elected in Gombe State
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State was also re-elected after winning Saturday’s governorship election.
The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Maimuna Waziri who is the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Gashua, declared the result in Gombe on Sunday.
Waziri said that Yahaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 342, 821 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jibrin Barde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 233, 131 votes.
She said that Khamisu Mailantarki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) polled 19,861 votes while Keftin Amuga of the Labour Party polled 1,753.
Waziri said that the number of registered voters was 1,575,794, while 618,231 voters were accredited adding that the number of valid votes was 605,355, while 11,390 votes were rejected and 616,745 total votes cast.
Yahaya won in nine out of the 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Gov. Dapo Abiodun Re-elected in Ogun State
Gov. Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the governorship election in Ogun State, defeating Oladipupo Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to retain his seat.
The state Returning Officer for the Governorship poll, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, made the declaration on Sunday in Abeokuta at about 6.17 p.m, saying that Abiodun scored 276, 298 votes to win the election.
Adebutu got 262, 382 votes, and Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came third with 94, 754 votes.
A breakdown of the results on a local government basis, as announced by the local government Collation Officers, showed that Abiodun won in 12 council areas. In contrast, Adebutu won in eight out of the 20 local governments in the state.
Gov. Mai Mala Buni Re-elected in Yobe State
INEC declared Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Umaru Pate, announced the result in Damaturu on Sunday.
Pate said that Buni of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 317,113 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Sherif Abdullahi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 124,259 votes.
Garba Umar of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) came a distant third with 14,246 votes, while Arabi Mohammed of the Action Alliance (AA) polled 3,260.
APC’s Umar Namadi Wins Jigawa Guber Poll
Umar Namadi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the Jigawa governorship election.
The INEC Returning Officer for the vote, Prof. Umar Zaiyan of Federal University, Birnin Kebbi announced the result in Dutse on Sunday.
Zaiyan said Namadi scored 618,449 votes to beat his closest rival, Mustapha Sule Lamido who polled 368,726 votes.
According to him, 1.07 million voters were accredited in the March 18 election with 1.05 million votes cast, out of which 1.03 million votes were valid.
Aminu Ringim of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) clinched 37,156 votes.
The PDP had earlier called on the returning officer to declare a section of the election as inconclusive.
Namadi is the incumbent deputy governor of Jigawa State.
PDP’s Umo Eno Wins in Akwa Ibom State
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Umo Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.
The Returning Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Adigio who is the Vice Chancellor of Nigerian Maritime University, Delta State, announced the results in Uyo on Sunday.
He said Eno won in 29 out of 31 Local Government Areas to defeat Sen. Bassey Akpan of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
The PDP candidate scored 354,348 votes while the YPP candidate got 136,262 votes.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 129,602 votes, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) got 12,509 votes, and the Labour Party (LP) scored 4,746 votes.
APC’s Dikko Umar-Radda Declared Winner of Katsina Governorship Election
INEC declared Dikko Umar-Radda of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election in Katsina State.
Announcing the result on Sunday in Katsina, the State Returning Officer, Prof. Muazu Abubakar-Gusau said Umar-Radda polled 859,892 votes to emerge the governor-elect.
He defeated his closet rival, Sen. Yakubu Lado-Danmarke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 486,620 votes.
Abubakar-Gusau said that the number of registered voters in the state was 3,516,719, while the number of accredited voters for the election was 1,399,291.
Rejected votes were 20,579, while the total valid number of votes was 1,365,848 and the total votes cast was 1,386,427.
The election was canceled in 88 polling units due to violence and over–voting, according to INEC.
APC’s Ahmad Aliyu clinches Sokoto governorship seat
In Sokoto State, INEC declared Ahmad Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election.
The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu, declared after the collation of the election results from 23 Local Government Areas of the state, on Sunday, in Sokoto.
Hamisu, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Dutsin-ma, said Aliyu won the election with 453,661 votes.
He said that Malam Sa’idu Umar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came second with 404,632 votes.
Only 901,513 of the 2,172,056 registered voters in the state were accredited for the election.
The number of valid votes was 864,419 while 15,357 ballots were rejected.
Taraba State
In Taraba State, PDP’s Agbu Kefas maintained the lead in Saturday’s gubernatorial election as INEC declared results of two more local government areas.
In Ardo Kola Local Government Area, Kefas polled 15,034 votes to defeat NNPP’s Yahaya, who polled 14,577 votes, while the APC candidate, Senator Bwacha, polled 2,343 votes.
In Yorro, Kefas scored 11,880 votes to defeat Bwacha, who polled 5,282 votes, and NNPP’s Yahaya who scored 4,072 votes. The results of the two local government areas brought the total number of local government area results released by INEC to four, out of a total of 16.
Kefas had polled 20,183 votes in Zing local government to defeat Bwacha, who scored 7,299 and Yahaya who scored 2,919. In Lau, Kefas scored 13,368 votes while Yahaya and Bwacha scored 10,196 and 5,079 votes, respectively.
Rivers State
Agents of the opposition political parties in Rivers State, yesterday, protested against the results announced in favour of PDP in the state. Led by the LP agent, Frederick Nwojie, the agents rejected the results announced so far and called for suspension of the process.
The Accord Party’s agent, Iyk Oji, complained about irregularities, violence, and inconsistencies between results being collated and those uploaded on the INEC portal.
But Returning Officer, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Efurun, said the call to stop collation could be granted, but that the agents should document their complaints and submit to him. Rim-Rukeh added that their reports and observations had been sent to the INEC national headquarters.
But the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Siminalayi Fubara, was leading in the results of 17 local government areas so far announced.
Anambra State
Results declared so far by INEC in Anambra State showed that the ruling APGA clinched a majority of the seats in the 30-man state Assembly.
There had been apprehension in the state, especially among members of APGA, following the overwhelming popularity of the presidential candidate of LP, Mr Peter Obi, in the state, after the presidential election three weeks ago.
There were also allegations by Governor Chukwuma Soludo that Obi had planned to set him up for impeachment if LP clinched the majority seats in the Assembly.
However, the results declared showed that APGA clinched 17 seats in the 30-man Assembly, forming the majority.
LP won eight seats, mostly in the cosmopolitan areas of the state, with high number of non-indigenes of the state. The Young Progressives Party (YPP), through the influence of its national leader, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, won three seats, which were concentrated around Nnewi, where he hails from.
PDP won two seats in the Assembly, through the influence of Senator Stella Oduah.
Ebonyi State
Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly and governorship candidate of APC in the state, Francis Nwifuru, won nine of the 12 local governments officially declared by INEC.
The results showed that Nwifuru won in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Izzi, Ikwo, Afikpo North, Afikpo South, Ivo, Ohaozara and Ohaukwu local government areas, while APGA won Ezza North and Ezza South council areas. The governorship result of Ishielu local government was still awaited at press time.
PDP won in Onicha Local Government Area, where the candidate of the party, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, hails from.
From the 12 local government areas declared, APC scored 188, 649 votes, while PDP got 74,979 votes, APGA secured 48,491 votes.
Delta State
Governorship candidate of PDP in Delta State, Chief Sheriff Obovrewori, won in 12 of the 14 local government areas announced so far by INEC at the collation centre in Asaba. The APC candidate and Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege came second, winning two local government areas.
The results, as announced by Electoral Officer, Professor George Owuneri, yesterday, showed that PDP polled 203,101 votes, while the opposition APC garnered 113,854 votes so far.
The ruling PDP won Ika North, Aniocha North, Ndokwa East, Ika South, Patani, Sapele, Aniocha South, Okpe, Bomadi, Ethiope East, Oshimili North, and Warri South. APC won only in Urdu and Uvwie local government areas.
Bauchi State
Governorship candidate of PDP, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed, led in eight of the 10 local government areas so far declared by INEC, while his closest challenger, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar (rtd) of APC, was leading in two local governments
The results were announced by the different collation officers of the various local government areas at the INEC state collation centre. Bauchi State has 20 local government councis.
Niger State
The APC candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in Niger State, Umar Mohammed Bago, may be coasting home to victory, going by the results so far announced by INEC in Minna. Of the 11 local government area results collated, Bago led his closest opponent, Isah Luman Kantigi of PDP, by winning in nine, while Kantigi won in only two council areas.
NNPP and LP trailed in that order.
Kogi State
APC won a total of 22 seats in the Kogi State House of Assembly, while the opposition parties PDP and African Democratic Congress (ADC) won the remaining three legislative seats.
Results collated from the 21 local government areas of the state revealed the pattern. PDP won in Bassa and Ogori/Magongo local government areas, while ADC won a seat in Yagbba West Local Government Area.
Ekiti State
Twenty-three candidates of APC won their seats in the House of Assembly election.
A statement by Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Ekiti State INEC, Temitope Akanmu, and Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ekiti State, Professor Ayobami Salami, said APC won 23 seats of the 26 seats in the Assembly, while Social Democratic Party (SDP) won two.
Candidates of SDP in Ekiti East Constituency 1, Dele Ogunsakin, and that of the Ise/Orun Constituency, Omotayo Babatunde, won the two other seats in the Assembly to defeat their closest APC rivals.
Osun State
PDP in Osun State won 25 of the 26 state legislative seats, while the APC won only Boripe/ Boluwaduro State Constituency.
Governor Ademola Adeleke expressed gratitude to the people of Osun State, and extended the olive branch to the opposition.
In a statement yesterday, Adeleke celebrated the chain of victories PDP had secured in the state from July 16, 2022 to February 25, 2023 and March 18, describing the outcomes of the elections as “complete embrace of PDP by Osun people for good governance and responsive leadership.”
Sokoto State
INEC declared Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto of APC as the governor-elect of Sokoto State.
Announcing the results, Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Dutsinma, Professor Armiyau Hamis, said Sokoto polled 453,661 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mallam Saidu Umar of PDP, who polled 404,632 votes.
The APC governorship candidate won 17 local government areas, out of 23, while PDP won in six local governments.
Oyo State
Governor Seyi Makinde of PDP won the governorship election in Oyo State. He was declared winner by INEC in Ibadan, the state capital, yesterday.
Makinde won in 31 local government areas with a total of 563,756 votes to defeat his closest rival, Teslim Folarin of APC, who won in two local government areas and scored 256,685 votes.
Plateau State
The Plateau State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Caleb Mutfwang, has won Saturday’s governorship election held in the state.
The result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission after counting the votes scored by parties that participated in the election showed that Mutfwang had the highest votes beating the All Progressives Congress candidate, Nentawe Yilwatda.
Recall that the PDP governorship candidate was reported to be taking an early lead as of 11 am when INEC resumed collations of results from the 17 local government areas of the state.
However, the Returning Officer for the governorship election in the state and Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Lafia, Professor Idris Amali, declared the PDP candidate winner at exactly 3:33 on Monday afternoon after collating results from the 17 local government areas of the state .
Recall that the PDP had been in power in Plateau state since 1999 until 2015 when the APC candidate, Simon Lalong, dislodged the party and won the governorship election of the state .
Lalong had won his re-election in 2019 to retain power by the APC before a fresh governorship election took place last Saturday
Declaring the PDP candidate, Mutfwang, as the duly elected governor at the INEC collation centre in Jos on Monday, the state Returning Officer said that the PDP candidate polled 525,299 votes to defeat his closest rival and the candidate of the ruling APC, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, who polled 481,370 votes
“I’m going to declare the results that I have here. There are 18 contestants. That Caleb Manesah Mutfwang of The PDP having satisfied the required by the law is hereby returned and declared the winner ,” The returning officer said.
According to the declared results, the PDP candidate won in ten local government areas while the APC candidate won in seven LGAs
The LGAs won by the PDP were Riyom, Jos South, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Mikang, Langtang South, Langtang North, Bokkos, Quaapan and Mangu.
The APC won in Jos North, Wase, Kanam, Pankshin, Jos East, Kanke and Shendam
Kaduna State
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Senator Uba Sani was on Monday declared the winner of the 2023 governorship election in Kaduna State.
He was declared the winner by the Returning Officer for Kaduna State and Vice Chancellor of the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Professor Lawal Suleiman Bilbis.
Sani polled a total of 730,002 votes to defeat his closest rival, Isa Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 719,196 votes.
The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Jonathan Asake, came a distant third after polling 58,283 votes while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate, Suleiman Hunkuyi scored 21,405 votes.
Before the winner was declared, the Kaduna State PDP Collation Agent, Danjuma Sarki, objected to the results, claiming the number of votes gotten from its situation room was 713,157 while the APC had 709,561.
He argued that the collation did not follow the Electoral Act 2022 and asked INEC to refer to the results uploaded on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
But the returning officer objected, saying the results announced were based on the collation done which was not objected to by party agents.
The PDP agent, therefore, refused to sign the final results sheets, describing the exercise as marred by irregularities.
Cross River State
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has been declared winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
The state Returning Officer for INEC, Prof. Teddy Charles of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, who made the announcement on Monday afternoon at the INEC headquarters in Calabar, said the APC candidate polled 258,619 votes to emerge winner of the election.
He said Otu’s closest rival and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Sandy Onor, polled 179,636 votes.
He said the votes recorded by other parties that sponsored candidates and participated in the governorship election are as follows: AA: 405; ADC: 1620; ADP: 902; APP: 340; LP : 5, 957; NRM: 441; PRP: 3,052; SDP: 628; YPP: 333.
The returning officer said the number of registered voters in the state stood at 1,766, 466; and total number of accredited voters was 466,294.
He said the total valid votes cast was 451, 933, and the number of rejected votes was 8923.
The returning officer said the total votes cast in the election was 460,856.
Prof. Charles said the total number of cancelled votes was 44,486, and therefore, less than 78,983, which is the margin of votes between the highest votes cast and the second highest number of votes cast.
The returning officer, therefore, declared Otu Bassey Edet of the APC as the winner of the election and governor-elect having satisfied the constitutional and other legal requirements to be so declared.
Benue State
The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Benue state, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has been declared the winner of last Saturday’s governorship elections in the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The APC candidate defeated his closest rival, Mr. Titus Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who came a distant second, with a margin of 251,020 votes.
Declaring the result of the election, the State Returning Officer, Professor Farouk Kuta, said he was relying on the “provisions of section 24(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Electoral Guideline of INEC to the declare the result of the election” despite the pending election in Kwande LGA.
Prof. Kuta stated that the APC candidate polled a total of 473,933votes to defeat Mr. Uba of the PDP, who garnered a total of 223,913 votes
The candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Herman Hembe scored 41,881 votes to come third.
A breakdown of the result declared by the Electoral body showed that the APC won in 17 Local Government Areas, LGAs of the 23 LGAs of the state, PDP took four LGAs while LP took one LGA.
The declared result also indicates that the total valid votes in the election stood at 756,903, the total votes cast was 768,404 while the total Rejected votes in the election stood at 11,499.
Shortly after the announcement of the outcome of the poll supporters of the APC took to the streets of Makurdi to celebrate the victory of the Catholic Priest.
Borno State
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has secured a second term with a landslide victory at the March 18 governorship and state House of Assembly elections.
Out of the 649,855 votes cast, Zulum, on the platform of APC, scored 545,543, defeating his distant trailer, Mohammed Ali Jajari of the PDP, who polled 82,147 votes.
Declaring the result, the state’s Governorship and State Assembly Election Returning Officer, Prof Jude Tsammani Rabo, said Prof Zulum, had scored the highest number of votes and secured a quarter of the votes cast in each of the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.
He said Zulum, having satisfied the requirement of the law was hereby declared the winner of the gubernatorial election.
Twelve political parties contested the election in the state which has 2,513,281 registered voters out of whom 650,533 were accredited.
The APC also won all 28 House of Assembly seats in the elections.
Abia State
Dr Alex Otti of the Labour Party has won a total of 10 out of the 16 Local Government Area results so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before the commission suspended collation of the Abia Governorship election.
Otti polled a total of 171,747 votes while Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scored a total of 79,477 votes after winning five LGAs.
Young Peoples Party, YPP polled 8,839 to win Osisioma LGA the home of its governorship candidate, Enyinnaya Nwafor.
Meanwhile, INEC, has directed the immediate suspension of collation of governorship election results in Abia State.
Administrative Secretary of INEC, Abia State, Chief Clement Oha read the directive midway into collation at the INEC office in Umuahia on Monday.
He said that based on the alleged irregularities by in some polling units particularly Obingwa Local Government Area where INEC office was invaded, collation had been halted at the LGA.
Enugu State
The Enugu State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to go ahead to formerly declare its gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Peter Mbah, as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
This was even as the party warned the Labour Party and its governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga against what it termed a do-or-die politics, noting that while the PDP had taken its losses with democratic equanimity, the LP wants INEC to cancel results of places where the LP lost elections.
Recall that at the state election collation centre on Sunday, the returning officer for Nkanu East LGA, announced that the PDP gubernatorial candidate polled 30,350 votes in his native LGA, Nkanu East, while his LP counterpart polled 1,855 votes to place second.
However, the LP, while not contesting the total of 30, 294 it recorded in Nsukka LGA, had called on the state returning officer to cancel that of Nkanu East.
It said: “We call on INEC to immediately declare Dr. Ndubuisi Mbah as the governor-elect for Enugu State, having fulfilled all the requirements of the constitution and the Electoral Act 2022.
“We insist that the LP cannot be allowed to derail Enugu’s democratic progress with its do-or-die politics as avowed by its senator-elect, Chief Okey Ezea in a widely circulated video ahead of the governorship election.
“It is noted that the LP candidate won the gubernatorial election in Udenu, the local government of the incumbent governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who is of the PDP extraction and we did not complain.
“The LP also won the Enugu North senatorial seat in the 25th February election against a sitting governor of the PDP extraction, we did not reject their victory.
